Canberrans borrowed more than 1.4 million items from Libraries ACT in 2025. A mix of literary fiction, crime, and cookbooks dominated this year’s reading habits.
The most borrowed title across all formats was Orbital by Samantha Harvey. Winner of the 2024 Booker Prize, it follows six astronauts over a single day aboard a space station.
Local crime writer Chris Hammer’s The Valley — a mystery set in a remote mountain community — claimed second place overall and topped the ACT author category. Hammer placed three more titles in the top five ACT author list.
Nagi Maehashi’s RecipeTin Eats Tonight was the most borrowed non-fiction title of the year, ranking fifth.
Crime and mystery were popular, particularly books by Dervla McTiernan and Richard Osman.
Young adult readers gravitated toward fantasy, dystopian fiction, and graphic novels, led by Suzanne Collins’ Sunrise on the Reaping and Sarah J. Maas’ A Court of Thorns and Roses series.
Top five titles across all formats (including audio)
1. Orbital – Samantha Harvey
2. The Valley – Chris Hammer
3. In Too Deep – Lee Child
4. The Unquiet Grave – Dervla McTiernan
5. RecipeTin Eats Tonight – Nagi Maehashi
Top 5 reads for 2025 by genre:
Top Five Adult Fiction
1. Orbital – Samantha Harvey
2. The Valley – Chris Hammer
3. The Unquiet Grave – Dervla McTiernan
4. In Too Deep – Lee Child
5. Lyrebird – Jane Caro
Top Five Young Adult Fiction & Graphic Novels
1. Sunrise on the Reaping – Suzanne Collins
2. A Court of Thorns and Roses – Sarah J. Maas
3. A Court of Mist and Fury – Sarah J. Maas
4. Powerless – Lauren Roberts
5. Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong – Brian Buccellato
Top Five Books by ACT Authors
1. The Valley – Chris Hammer
2. Smoke – Michael Brissenden
3. Legacy – Chris Hammer
4. The Seven – Chris Hammer
5. The Deed – Susannah Begbie
Top Five Non-Fiction
1. RecipeTin Eats Tonight – Nagi Maehashi
2. The Season – Helen Garner
3. Memorial days – Geraldine Brooks
4. The Let Them Theory – Mel Robbins
5. The Salt Path – Raynor Winn
Top Five Junior Fiction & Graphic Novels series
1. Dog Man Series – Dav Pilkey
2. Ninja Kid Series – Anh Do
3. Wings of Fire Series – Tui Sutherland
4. Wolf Girl Series – Anh Do
5. Treehouse Series – Andy Griffiths
Minister for City and Government Services Tara Cheyne said libraries play a vital role in the community.
“Libraries ACT remains one of our most valued public resources,” Ms Cheyne said. “These figures show that Canberrans have an enduring passion for stories, whether it’s gripping mysteries, heartfelt memoirs, or imaginative adventures.
“Libraries ACT is more than books and other items available from our libraries, it’s about connection, learning, and community. Thank you to our library staff for making these spaces welcoming and vibrant.”
